GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Melody
http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile
http://www.donkeywhisperer.com
https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer
Category Archives: healing
Hoof Abscess
The Donkey Whisperer Farm is officially six years old in 2013; time has literally flown by so much has changed and yet so much remains the same. Rio is now a full-grown Mammoth donkey as he turns seven years old in 2013. Rocket Man turns nineteen and my horse Lily is eight years young.
The most frustrating and difficult issues I have had with our Mammoth donkey is hoof abscesses. It appears that Mammoth donkeys should live in the desert with no rain poor boy was born in Western Washington with too much rain. Each of them get their feet picked out daily and their paddock has very little mud and yet the Mammoth donkey suffers from abscess, networking via the internet I have learned this is sadly the health issues associated with Mammoth donkeys.
Before I brought all three equine home I researched, networked and read every book I could get my hand on to create the dryest paddock to prevent hoof problems as I have lived in Western Washington most of my life. I placed 3/4 clean gravel down on the hill between the two barns to avoid mud, thrush and abscesses. Rio has had horrific abscesses and we are now laying pin chips down (no cedar) to help him. I made the decision to shoe Rio’s front (absessing yearly) with Dr. Hills overseeing the process this last fall. Rio’s custom-made Mammoth Donkey shoes are helping him get more exercise on the gravel as he is running and playing again, he is much more comfortable.
I place 3/4 clean gravel in between the two barns where they walk back and forth day after day to stop the mud. Additionally I suggest laying pin chips down so they have a place to lay outside and it is soft and dry the only problem I have noted with pin chips is it needs to be replaced at least every other year or it will turn to mud.
Hoof abscesses in donkeys are not the same as the horse. Why?
Donkeys hoof anatomy is of a donkey not a horse. Donkeys are strong and will not show any pain until it is a serious medical matter. Here is another post I wrote explaining the emergency kit and the hoof abscess. The horse would be limping much faster than the donkey or mule with an abscess thus the seriousness and need for a vet immediately. Please call the vet for draining a hoof abscess do not leave this to the farrier.
What can you do for your donkey, horse or mule suffering from a hoof abscess?
Call the Vet hopefully you have a vet that has experience with donkeys. Donkeys are not horses and thus their hooves do not behave the same as a horse. Please only authorize your vet to find the abscess and drain it,never let the farrier do the vet’s job! Your vet will cut out a very small hole for drainage releasing the pain and pressure almost instantly. Never authorize the farrier to do this as this is a medical need not a farrier need.
Follow up maintenance is necessary the hole needs to be kept clean, pick the stuff out of feet every day, I suggest getting a spray bottle and using Beda dine solution with some water in a water bottle to spray the hole clean every day. We use the solo spray bottle as it gets all the gunk out and keeps it clean, Soaking a cotton ball in beda dine solution and sticking it in the hole is necessary until the hole has grown out. The hoof will not grow completely out for at least ten months to a year so keeping the hole clean from mud and gunk is a full-time job to say the least.
One of the best things we can do as an owner of donkeys, horses and mules is keep the hooves trimmed and make sure they are being trimmed correctly. Select Pete Ramey to learn how to trim a donkey, trimming needs to be done at least every 6-7 weeks. I highly recommend you the owner viewing this dvd and asking your farrier to review it. Trimming equine is not a back yard hobby and it needs to be left to professionals in my opinion as incorrect trimming will cause abscesses and sand and grit to travel into the white line. As the owner we must be picking the hoof out each and every day and making sure no thrush is growing in the hoof. Diet of the equine is imperative to optimum health so test your hay, do not give grain and treats to the donkey just clean water and low sugar hay. Orchard hay around the Pacific northwest is what we use and a slow feeder is also a good idea as long as it is covered to keep the rain out.
I am trying a new slow feeder out will follow-up with the results in my upcoming blogs.
Video of a Donkey Suffering With A Hoof Abscess
Summary:
Diet, exercise, professional trimmer of hooves every 6-7 weeks, clean out hooves each and every day, clean dry padock, morton loose salt, white salt block, clean water, low sugar hay and no grazing in green grass for the easy keeper. Donkeys are always easy keepers. 
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Melody
http://wwwyouversion.com/mobile
http://www.donkeywhisperer.com
https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer
Determined wife, gentle horse get Dennis Weitman rolling again
Howdy,
This is a very inspirational article “Never Give Up”, Select Man falls Off Roof enjoy!
Never give up, Never stop trying, always have faith as GOD will never leave or forsake his children.
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Melody
http://www.donkeywhisperer.com
https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer
http://www.youversion.com/mobile
Why Does My Donkey Have Bald Spots?
Howdy,
Seems donkeys attract more stuff having all that fluffy donkey hair so be proactive and help them out if they are rubbing and have bald spots. Just thinking about how much they are itching and need your help should motivate you to find out what is the cause. Please always call your Vet (DVM) if you are not sure what is causing the baldness.
External Parasites: All equine are prone to external parasites; flies, fleas, lice, and the ever-popular”no see ums”. We recommend always using an external fly spray in the summer to protect your equine from biting flies, horse flies and mosquitos. Donkeys are particularly prone to lice in the cooler months (November-April). We don’t really know why, but unlike horses, donkeys have a high susceptibility to lice. It is theorized that the lice originate with birds and that the bird droppings get on trees and wooded areas. Add moisture and the heavy down coat of the donkey and you have a perfect environment for lice. Because most donkeys in the Pacific Northwest are kept in wooded areas they tend to contract the lice by browsing and scratching on the trees, stumps and brush. Being infected with lice is no small health issue, if it gets bad enough donkeys develop bleeding sores, hair loss and can even become anemic and ill. It is important to treat your donkey for lice. Be careful! Choose wisely! Ask your veterinarian!
This spring has been especially wet in the Pacific Northwest Rocket Man came up with a huge bald spot on his face no doubt from ithing. I clipped the small amount of hair that was itching on his face to see what was going on and then applied betadine scrub to steralize the outchie. Next I apply cortizone cream too the itcy spot. Medication is courtseys of Mas Ass Acres care takers.
Fly predators really works so give it a try and stop the anoying fly problem that comes with equine poop it really works, I highly suggest picking the pasture, and padddock and composting. Buzz off works when placed on the pole of the donkey probably the best so far for lice.
Marigold fly spray for all insects works and smells good with the bonus of being all natural no toxins Shop around for the best prices just showing you what these items look like to help you keep your donkeys, horses and mules in optiumum health as it is our job as equine owners to care for them they cannot do it themselves.
What to do for sores?
Select Donkeys Living In The Pacific Northwest Rain Sores and Self Mutilation - Please call the vet if you can’t help the donkey on your own.
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Melody
Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway! – John Wayne
Howdy,
Today is April 13, 2012 it has been two years since I got in the vehicle with my GOD mother and survived a semi truck smashing into the passenger door where I was sitting destroying my fragile body. This has been the longest two years I can remember of my entire life. Praise GOD my husband and I are stronger in our bond of marriage and I thank GOD in Jesus Christ name for his blessings, healing and favor.
I Have Learned, In Whatsoever State I am, To Be Content – Philippians 4:11 – YOUTUBE Sernity Prayer Video
I think I am finally getting this verse (Philippians 4:11) from the NIV bible I guess these things take time as I am just a human being doing the best I can to navigate life. Nothing happens by accident; I am sure GOD always allows things to come into our life and leave our life as nothing stays the same.
Life weaves in and out for all of us just like seasons come and go in nature. The good news is I know GOD is in control of my life and I need not worry about a thing and I shall be content and live in the moment just like the animals do.
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Melody
http://www.donkeywhisperer.com
https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer
Just One Blog For Me
Howdy,
I seem to be enduring more pain than normal this last few weeks as the wet and cold is very hard on my body with the screws surgically installed in my pelvis, the back, neck, knee and nerve pain is indeed on fire the last few weeks. I refuse to complain and be a victim just keep praying and asking GOD for complete healing. One day, one step at a time as life is indeed precious.
I met a woman yesterday at Physical Therapy suffering with cancer on her brain I was busy doing my physical therapy exercises and noticed she could barely talk. I of course said ”hello” and she immediately began telling me her story, my face was drenched with tears as she hurried to tell me her trauma from brain Cancer. As she was telling me her story she slowly arched her head to show me her fresh scars on the back of her head. I could feel my face get red as I was embarrassed I could not make the tears stop, I seem to cry much more now than ever before, GOD has made me very sensitive to others pain as I understand pain, I live with pain every day. I kept wiping my face as I did not have a kleenex handy, I told her I would pray for her and I have now continuously for the last 24 hours. Please say a prayer for this woman she needs your prayer.
I truly understand the need to share information after trauma as this is what keeps me moving forward. GOD will heal me, I am a child of Jesus Christ, What GOD has done for others he will do for me, I am held in the palm of Gods hand, nothing is a surprise to GOD, nothing. GOD will take all the bad and make good, I will not fear anything as fear is “false evidence appearing real”, GOD knows what to do before I do. I will pray and believe GOD has a better plan than I ever could for my life. GOD uses all the broken things in this world to make all things new. GOD wants his children to be bold, strong and brave we are created to be warriors for Jesus Christ, we are created to be strong. Here is a bible app for your phone or computer.
Writing somehow helps me heal it is a double-edged sword as I am a very private person, about now you’re saying what you are all over the internet yes for the advocacy of the equine (donkeys, horses and mules) and basically all animals. I think this accident has made me be stronger to stand up for Jesus, share what Jesus has done for me to help others believe in miracles and believe GOD can help them. Such a personal things to share I know but life is indeed personal and blogging is therapy it is a way for me to heal and I pray my transparency helps you heal, GOD works though his children to heal his children after all this is GOD I am talking about in Jesus Christ precious name.
What is the point of sharing this with you? Each of us needs to be grateful for our life others have it so much harder if you are depressed and worried give it to Jesus and remember helping others will help you. Do not stay stuck in your life and not contribute or get involved with others as we were created to share and help one another.
Just one blog for me so if I get scattered with a bunch of issues just know “I am sharing this thing called life from my eyes to your eyes.” After all that is what we are created to do in the navigation of this thing called life share and inspire one another.
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Melody
https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer
The Way Love Moves
Howdy,
Here is an outstanding post from the Elephant Advocacy blog named The Way Love Moves enjoy!
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Melody
https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer
Why Horses, Help PTSD, Depression, Anxiety
Howdy,
Did you know donkeys, horses and mules can help us humans move into the present and not live in the past? Check out the The Equine Assisted Growth and Learning for more details.
Did you know horses are helping our solders with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? Check out this video Dare To Live
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Melody
https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer
Behind Every Blog Is A Human Being
Howdy,
While your blogging, clicking, viewing, listening, and enjoying the creativity and warmth of a fellow blogger “remember behind each Blog and Post a human being sits” this is your opportunity to be a human angel. 
Just takes a moment to leave a nice comment that is uplifting and inspirational as you might just be the human angel this person needs at the precise moment as GOD uses all things to help his children.
Your comment may save a life for a person who is ready to call life quits; isolation, pain, suffering, loss, sickness, family, divorce, death, trauma, cancer, loneliness, depression, pain, just a few of the things our fellow bloggers feel.
God plants each of us in the exact place he wants us to be as we are human angels like a light house to a ship being battered in the sea looking for land.
Remember to take one moment to leave a positive comment as you may save a person from jumping off the cliff in life and you may bring the fellow blogger one step closer to Jesus.
Your positive comment may be the touch of love Jesus has used to help another human being suffering and lost in this amazing world GOD created. If you can’t write something nice, don’t write anything at all, after all no one forced you to read the blog.
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Melody
http://www.donkeywhisperer.com
https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer
After An Almost Fatal Car Accident – What Comes Next?
Howdy,
I try really hard to not be a victim, not be a whiner, not be a person who cries on my blog about the pain and suffering I endure daily from surviving an almost fatal car accident while riding as passenger. I try really hard to keep my blog positive and stay focused to my purpose of creating the Donkey Whisperer Farm website and blog, sharing my belief in Jesus Christ. Helping the donkeys, mules and horses have a better life showing people resistance free training (without pain) is not only possible it is the best way to train equine this is indeed my purpose.
Our attitude is probably one of the most important things we can change; also one of the most difficult to change when enduring pain and suffering. If we can learn to control our attitude we can create a massive chain reaction moving us into the life we want to create, share, enjoy and pass down as our legacy after we leave these human bodies. I cry out for GOD to help me change my attitude as I don’t believe I am strong enough to tackle my attitude without Jesus Christ helping me. Each of us has one life to live and it is our responsibility as adults to figure out our special gifts and talents and enjoy what we are given no matter how unfair it all seems.
Sadly I suffer from chronic pain daily, hourly since the almost fatal car accident in the spring of 2010. I just don’t understand why any person should have to have this kind of pain and suffering day in and day out. Praying GOD releases me from pain and heals my body to 100% restoration, for now I must keep my head up and live life grateful most days I am pretty good. I am indeed a reminder to never invoke pain and suffering on any human or animal is truly awareness that I am trying to teach with GOD’s help I have indeed touched you in some way. You will then make an attitude change and stop abuse of humans and animals as each of us is exactly in the right place to help others enjoy life. Speake up and stop abuse.
Yesterday was a hard day had another back spasm so bad again and I really don’t know why. The metal in my pelvis messes everything up when I walk, bend, sit and stand and yet without the metal in my pelvis I would surely not be able to walk so it is a double edge sword one I work on mentally every single hour I am awake.
Writing is very therapeutic as it helps get all the feelings out of my body, sharing my emotions, thoughts and belief for the entire world to read has not easy for me. I share these very personal feelings in hopes my pain and suffering helps another human or animal not suffer so much. GOD uses everything negative to help others and I pray my transparency helps you and gives you the courage to enjoy your life and push past the fears that are holding you back to enjoy this precious life.
Each of us has the same amount of time in each day and yet some people complete so very much more than others. These are the interesting and perplexing thoughts that come into my mind all the time. If you have survived trauma GOD has a reason to keep you here on earth. GOD uses each of us to be a light in the dark for others. Never forget that GOD is good and he wants all his children to surrender to him with a simple prayer.
Ok one more thing; please never ever abuse your donkey, horse or mule. Here is a very inspirational video of a man training a mammoth donkey with no bit in the mouth. This was my dream to train Rio to ride with no bit in his mouth. Please understand pain is not the answer to training horses, mules and donkeys. Take the time it takes to train your equine after all you are the smart human they are just domesticated animals forced to live in the environment you created for them.
Be grateful for your life and what GOD has given you! Do not treat your animals like prisoners in lieu of a partner. If your horse, donkey or mule won’t come to you when you step into their world perhaps it’s time for you to figure out why? Sounds like a relationship problem and guess what outstanding relationships take time, prayer and patience.
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Melody
http://www.donkeywhisperer.com
https://www.facebook.com/Donkeywhisperer
